The earliest known ancestor was Johannes Tschischmak (1813-1898) who was born and lived all of his life in Krasna, Bessarabia, Russia. He was the father of at least three sons. One of his descendants married into the Bachmeier family which also came from Krasna. Both families emigrated from Russia to North Dakota. Descendants live in North Dakota, Minnesota, South Dakota and other parts of the United States.